שמואל א, פרק י״ד, פסוק י״ג

A daring surprise attack by two men against a fortified Philistine garrison blends immense human courage with visible Divine providence. Jonathan's approach required scaling a steep, rocky cliff. The primary approach among commentators understands his climb literally: the ascent was so severe and the rock so slippery that Jonathan had to crawl on his hands and knees, gripping the stone tightly to avoid falling [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ, אברבנאל]. This awkward climb left the two men completely exposed and defenseless. In such a vulnerable position, even a young boy standing at the top could have easily pushed them over the edge with rocks or simple weapons, which highlights the miraculous nature of their survival [אלשיך]. Alternatively, some view the description of his physical climb metaphorically, suggesting he simply charged up the hill with maximum speed and strength [רש״י, רד״ק].

Scaling the sheer rock face was not a random choice, but a deliberate tactical maneuver guided by God. Rather than taking the standard path where the Philistine guards were heavily concentrated, Jonathan climbed straight up to unexpectedly emerge between the guard outpost and the main camp. This sudden appearance from an impossible angle scattered the enemy and threw the entire Philistine defensive line into total confusion [מלבי״ם].

Once they reached the top, the close-quarters battle began with a highly efficient division of labor. Jonathan struck the first blow, wounding the enemy soldiers and knocking them to the ground. Rather than pausing to finish them off, he kept moving forward to strike down more enemies without delay. His armor-bearer followed closely behind to deliver the fatal blows [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because Jonathan held the only sword between the two of them, the armor-bearer completed the task using a piece of iron or a heavy stick [חומת אנך].

The fact that two isolated men could achieve such a victory while in plain sight of the enemy clearly points to God's direct intervention. It was Divine providence that caused the enemy fighters to fall before Jonathan [אלשיך, אברבנאל]. God also sparked a miraculous, overwhelming panic throughout the Philistine camp. In their confusion, the Philistines mistakenly believed a massive Israelite army was attacking them, causing them to turn on each other in terror [אברבנאל].